Lesson 2: Cattle Trails - Mapping the Route

Introduction

Important Icon In this lesson, we will map the route of two of the most popular cattle trails used as well

as some major cities and railheads used by the Texas Ranchers. Important Icon

Focus Questions:

How did economic incentives influence cattle drives in the late 1800s? 

Why were cattle trails and drives needed? 

Why did cattle drives come to an end?

Cattle Trails

Welcome back Cow-gals and guys!

Today, we will take what we learned yesterday and plot out the routes the ranchers took when they were taking their cattle to sell!

Now, remember, during this time, railroads did not run all over the country. The cowhands had to make a journey that would take a few weeks to reach the nearest train station. From there, the cattle were loaded up and shipped to the cities to sell.

  In your journal:  Print the Cattle Drive Map and follow the directions given in the slideshow. When you are finished, you should have a completed cattle trails map. Keep up with this map because you will add to it through this unit.

Cattle Drive Map Download Cattle Drive Map

 

[CC BY 4.0] UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED | IMAGES: LICENSED AND USED ACCORDING TO TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION